No Link Between Diabetes, Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Type 2 diabetes has no effect on the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, but prostate cancer patients with diabetes do have poorer long-term survival rates, U.S. researchers report.
Previous studies had suggested that insulin promoted the growth of prostate cancer cells. In people with type 2 diabetes, the body fails to use insulin properly, which can result in excess insulin in the blood.
This study included more than 1,500 men with localized prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy between 1989 and late 2001. Of these patients, more than 1,300 had no history of type 2 diabetes, while about 200 did have type 2 diabetes managed with diet, exercise or medications other than insulin.
"We looked a several key pretreatment factors used to stage the prostate cancer," study author Dr. Khanh H. Nguyen, a resident in the radiation oncology department at Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, explained in a prepared statement.
"These factors include the initial PSA (prostate-specific antigen), Gleason score and T-stage. The men with type 2 diabetes didn't have a significantly different initial profile for their prostate cancer than the men without diabetes," Nguyen said. "Additionally, type 2 diabetes did not appear to influence the rates of PSA failures or distant metastases. However, men with type 2 diabetes had significantly worse long-term overall survival."
Among men with diabetes, the death rate from all causes was about 23 percent, compared to 19 percent for the men without diabetes. The death rates from prostate cancer were 3 percent for men with diabetes, and 2.4 percent for men without diabetes.
Even though diabetes doesn't appear to influence the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, the use of diet, exercise and medications to control diabetes may improve the survival odds for prostate cancer patients, the study authors noted.
Drug Improves Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes
The diabetes drug pioglitazone can reduce the risk of death, heart attack and stroke in high-risk type 2 diabetes patients, a new study finds.
The study authors noted that diabetics have a two- to four-fold increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event compared to people who don't have diabetes. Before this study, there was only indirect evidence that pioglitazone may reduce the risk of cardiovascular illness and death in people with diabetes.
Appearing in this week's issue of The Lancet, the study included more than 5,200 type 2 diabetes patients with evidence of cardiovascular disease. In addition to their existing medications for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, half of the patients were given pioglitazone while the other half received a placebo.
Patient outcomes were tracked for an average of 34.5 months. According to the group of European researchers, the pioglitzone group experienced 803 cardiovascular events -- deaths, heart attacks, strokes, cardiac or leg interventions and acute coronary syndrome -- while the placebo group experienced 900 events.
The patients in the pioglitazone group also took longer before they needed to begin insulin therapy compared to those in the placebo group, the study said.
The treatment group did experience an increase in reported heart failure, but the number of heart failure deaths in both groups was similar.
The researchers concluded that, in a group of 1,000 type 2 diabetes patients, pioglitzone use could prevent 21 first heart attacks, strokes or deaths over three years.
Government warns against Enteryx
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told doctors on Monday to stop using Enteryx, a device used to treat acid-reflux disease that Boston Scientific Corp. recalled last month.
The FDA said doctors should immediately stop injecting Enteryx, due to serious adverse effects, including death, occurring in patients treated with the liquid chemical polymer used for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Enteryx is intended to be injected into the lower esophageal sphincter where it polymerizes into a spongy material that cannot be removed, the FDA said in a notice on its Web site (www.fda.gov).
Boston Scientific issued a recall of its Enteryx procedure kits and its Enteryx injector single packs on September 23, the FDA said.
While some problems with the device related to how it was injected, not all injuries were the result of user technique, the FDA said.
It said one reported death was due to injection of Enteryx into the wall of the aorta and cited two cases of possible inflammatory reactions occurring even when proper procedures were followed.
A representative of Boston Scientific was not immediately available for comment.
Food Fact:
Buttermilk? Spread the word.
Despite the name, buttermilk is a great secret for low-fat cooks to keep up their sleeves. Buttermilk is either skim or low-fat, and fermented with beneficial bacteria that leaves its characteristic tang. Its acidity helps keep baked goods tender without adding fat, and its creamy texture makes a good base for salad dressings. It's a delicious addition to mashed potatoes and makes a thick, tangy, low-fat soup base. It also makes a fine smoothie: Combine frozen berries, buttermilk and sugar (to taste) in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Huffing, not puffing.
Exercise increases your chances of quitting smoking or cutting back on cigarettes. It also helps you maintain a healthy weight after you've completed a weight loss program, increases muscle strength and endurance, and pumps up the size of your working muscles, which reduces the number of calories converted into body fat.
FAQ of the day:
Do I have to give up all red meat?
There are ways to make your sauce taste meaty without meat. Try adding extra mushrooms, sauteed eggplant, textured soy protein, ground turkey or chicken, or any combination of them. If meat's a must, buy the leanest ground beef, use about 1/4 your usual amount and try one of the above ingredients to stand in for the rest.
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